At the end of June and beginning of July 2012, Emperia Holding S.A.'s Management Board and Supervisory Board made a strategic decision to continue expansion of the Stokrotka supermarket segment, which features high growth potential and is currently Emperia Group's core business. As a result of these decisions, Stokrotka's Management Board was expanded, along with the company's key operating areas.
In line with Stokrotka's growth strategy, the composition of its management board was changed on 11 September 2012. Dariusz Kalinowski was appointed as the new president of the management board. New managers were also appointed, responsible for sales, logistics and finance.
The new president of Stokrotka Sp. z o.o.'s management board began working with Emperia, one of the largest retail groups in Poland, nearly 10 years ago. Since the beginning, he was a member of the management board and finance director at Eldorado, which was transformed into Emperia in 2007. Dariusz Kalinowski previously also worked at Tradis, as the president of its management board and operations director, where he was responsible for finance, logistics and administration. Since 2010, Kalinowski has been vice-president of the management board and finance director of Emperia Holding S.A., which coordinates Emperia Group's operations. In his new position, Kalinowski will be executing Stokrotka's long-term growth strategy.
Cezary Baran became a member of the management board and the finance director. He has been treasury director at Emperia Holding S.A. since 2004. Among his key areas will be management accounting, legal affairs, book-keeping and administration.
The procurement and marketing department will be managed by management board member Rafał Melanowicz. In 2009-2012, he was sales director and management board member at Tradis. Since January 2012, he's been the president of Infinite's management board.
The logistics area will be managed by Krzysztof Trojanowski, who has become a member of the management board. In 2006-2011, Trojanowski was the logistics director at the distribution company Tradis, which used to be owned by Emperia. Now, working alongside a team of experienced consultants, he is focusing on developing the optimal and most cost effective logistics system for Stokrotka, which is to be fully implemented by the end of next year.
As before, in charge of investments and growth is management board member Witold Sarzyński, while management board member Renata Bronisz-Czyż continues to oversee the HR area.
"Having Dariusz Kalinowski join as president of the management board will strengthen Stokrotka's management team, accelerate changes and contribute towards the company's continued growth. He is a well-rounded manager with competences and experience in building teams that achieve their objectives. We've been working with him for over 10 years. “As vice-president of the management board and finance director at Emperia, Dariusz Kalinowski has been instrumental to our successes. I am convinced that his knowledge, experience and familiarity with the company are a valuable asset that will help him to successfully manage Stokrotka," says Artur Kawa, CEO Emperia Holding S.A. The Stokrotka retail chain is Emperia's most prized asset, which is why we added our top managers to its board. "The newly-appointed management board members: Cezary Baran, Rafał Melanowicz and Krzysztof Trojanowski, alongside the currently serving members: Renata Bronisz-Czyż, Witold Sarzyński, are all experienced managers of the highest calibre. A strong, six-person management board is to ensure effective management of the company and strengthen its market position," he added.
The decision to continue Emperia's retail chain development requires changes to be made, which will result in new growth directions for Stokrotka in the coming years. "We are currently developing our long-term strategy, with the aim to consistently increase the company's value. The concept process is expected to be completed by the end of 2012 at the latest. I am sure that, with this team of experienced and highly competent co-workers, I will be able to continue Stokrotka's dynamic growth so that it becomes one of the key players in the Polish supermarket segment," says Dariusz Kalinowski, Stokrotka's new president of the management board.
Following the changes, from 11 September 2012, Stokrotka Sp. z o.o.'s management board comprises:
Dariusz Kalinowski joined Emperia in 2003. At first, he was management board member and finance director at Eldorado (later, in 2007, transformed into Emperia). He currently serves as vice-president of the management board and finance director at Emperia Holding S.A., as well as Stokrotka Sp. z o.o.'s president of the management board. Kalinowski also worked for Tradis as management board member responsible for finance, logistics and administration, as well as for Browar Carlsberg Okocim, Broward Bosman Szczecin and Bank PKO SA. He graduated from the Economics Department at the University of Szczecin. He has an MBA from the European University Centre for Management Studies in Switzerland.
Cezary Baran is a long-time employee of Emperia. He joined the company's management accounting department in 2001. Since 2004, he's been treasury director at Emperia Holding S.A., overseeing management of the receivables portfolio, liquidity management, risk hedging and capital raising. He graduated from the Economics Department at the Marie Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin Licenced investment adviser (licence no. 241).
Renata Bronisz-Czyż has been with Emperia Group since 1995, overseeing HR since the beginning. She's been a member of the management board and HR director at Stokrotka since 2011. She's been Emperia Group's HR director since 2003. She is a graduate of the education studies and psychology department at the Marie Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin and post-graduate studies in HR management at the Institute for Organization and Management in Industry in Warsaw.
Rafał Melanowicz began working for Emperia in 1999, at Eldorado's sales department. He participated in launching the Groszek franchise chain. In 2002, he became an employee of the IT company Infinite, where he served as management board member and president. In 2009-2012, he was sales director and management board member at Tradis. Since January 2012, he's been the president of Infinite's management board. He began his career in the export department of Materne Polska. He is a graduate of the management faculty at the Lublin University of Technology.
Witold Sarzyński has been with Stokrotka since 2000, when he became the expansion director. Since 2008, he's been a member of the management board, responsible for investments and growth. He is a graduate of the industry organisation and management department at the Lublin University of Technology. He has a diploma from the CCIM Institute in Chicago.
Krzysztof Trojanowski joined Emperia in 2004. In 2006-2011, he was the logistics director at the distribution company Tradis, which used to be owned by Emperia and now by Eurocash. During the past year, he served as director of the owner's supervision office at the Lublin City Hall and was in charge of the effectiveness and synergy of companies in which the Lublin City owns shares. In August 2012, he returned to Emperia as growth director at Emperia Holding S.A.
Stokrotka Sp. z o.o. is a company with Polish capital and rich traditions in Polish retail. Founded in Lublin in 1994, the company operates throughout the country. The company owns the following store chains: Stokrotka (188 locations) and Delima (9 locations). The first Stokrotka supermarket was founded in Łęczna near Lublin in 1996. New locations are set to be opened before the end of 2012.
Stokrotka's typical sales area is 400 - 800 sqm, depending on the market's needs and conditions, however the chain also includes profitable locations that are either smaller or bigger than this. Each supermarket offers over 10 000 assortment items. They offer a wide array of fresh products: meats, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, dairy, chemical products, household cleaners, as well as alcohol and wines from all over the world. Stokrotkas also offer local products from regional suppliers and own brands.